Barcelona take a step towards Liga

Madrid, April 5 (DPA) Barcelona took another step towards the Spanish Primera Liga title Saturday, with a tight 1-0 win away to midtable Valladolid on a goal from league top scorer Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o struck five minutes before half-time in Valladolid, with his 26th Liga goal. He played a classy one-two with Xavi and made it 1-0 with a calm lob Saturday.

Barca coach Josep Guardiola decided to give Lionel Messi, Dani Alves and Thierry Henry a welcome rest after their national team exertions.

The Catalans dominated from start to finish, with 72 per cent possession, and should have won by a greater margin.

“We were very much in control tonight,” said Barca veteran Sylvinho, “and I never thought that we would have problems.”

Their fourth successive win gives Barca a nine-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.

Sevilla, meanwhile, have consolidated themselves in their place - six points behind Real - with a 1-0 win away to lowly Recreativo Huelva.

The only goal in Huelva was a 32nd minute penalty from Frederic Kanoute, after Poli had pulled down Sevilla’s Renato.